Under Cabinet Ventilation System

ABSTRACT

A ventilation system comprising a plenum below the lower shelf of a cabinet combined with ductwork and special fan applications designed to evacuate air from the interior to the exterior of a building. The system is designed to eliminate issues normally encountered when retrofitting a ventilation system into an existing building.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application62/603,514, Filing date Jun. 5, 2017 Confirmation No. 9475.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to ventilation systems such as those typicallyinstalled in kitchens and bathrooms which are designed to exhaust airfrom inside a building to the outside through an opening in a wall orroof of the building. Due to the installation requirements, these typesof ventilation systems are typically included when the building is beingconstructed. Retrofit installations require a considerable amount ofreconstruction in order to create the required opening, install the fanand switches and bring electric service to the unit. The presentinvention is designed to eliminate many of these installation problems.

Typical ventilation systems include a housing positioned within abuilding structure, such as an aperture in a wall or ceiling. Thehousing is generally secured in the aperture using a number ofconventional techniques, such as by being attached to wall or ceilingjoists, or by being attached to other structures within the wall orceiling. As such, conventional ventilation systems can be relativelydifficult and time consuming to retrofit into an existing structure dueto the installation procedure required. Typically, these assembliesrequire additional parts that require alignment and attachment to thehousing, and offer limited ability to be re-configured for clearance ormaneuverability within pre-existing building construction.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a methodfor retrofitting a ventilation system in a building using a relativelysimple and cost effective procedure, the method having advantages nottaught in the prior art. Another objective of the present invention isto provide a ventilation means by directing air from the interior of thebuilding to the combustion air inlet pipe of a high-efficiencycondensing furnace. In this embodiment, the exhaust fan of the furnacewill provide air evacuation means.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The prior art teaches several techniques for removing air from theinterior of a building through use of a fan powered ventilation system.Powered ventilation systems can be included in kitchens and baths toremove odors and humidity. Other styles of ventilation systems includinghooded units are installed above cooking stoves and the like and areused to remove smoke and odors from the kitchen.

Ventilation system installations, as described in the prior art, involvepositioning an opening in the exterior wall of a building or in aceiling of a room, with ductwork installed to direct interior air to theoutside of the building. Typically a powered fan is included in the ventto move the interior air to the outside. As such, all typicalventilation systems include installation techniques which requirecutting a hole in an exterior wall, installation of the powered ventinto the wall or in a more typical installation, cutting and mountingthe powered fan into the ceiling of the room and installing ductwork tomove interior air to the outside of the building. Additionalinstallation requirements include wiring for electric service and thecorresponding switches, an action which typically involves cutting intothe wall or ceiling and routing electric wiring to operate the fan. Assuch, typical retrofit ventilation system installations can becomplicated and costly.

Several types of ventilation systems have been developed to provide airexchange between the inside and the outside of a building. Ventingsystem U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,121 utilizes the natural venting action of asoffit vent in coordination with a ceiling vent coupled to a channelbelow the roof of a structure which terminates in a ridge vent at thepeak of the roof. Interior air is pulled upward by the draft created ina channel running below the roof. Another venting system (U.S. Pat. No.6,077,159 includes passive venting for a building by including an airpermeable member in an existing roof structure. Ventilation systemapplication US 2015/0285524 describes a fan powered air exchange unitwhich measures outside air temp and humidity to determine operation.

More closely related in direct action of removing air from kitchens andbaths are U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,004,723 and 9,022,622. Both systems aredesigned to be included in the ceiling of a room and most likelyinstalled during building construction. US Pat. Application 2006/0073008provides a solution to the problem of installing a retro-fit fan housingby allowing replacement of the motor/fan portion from the housing withanother module without requiring removal of the entire housing. Thisprovision addresses the cost and reconstruction problems encounteredwhen replacing the entire housing in a finished kitchen or bath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a technique for installing a ventilationsystem in a manner that requires minimum installation requirements whileproviding air removal in the most appropriate places, that being thekitchen and bathroom. The present invention provides air venting from anarea close to the floor of a building through utilization and inclusionof an area that is typically unused in a contemporary home. The purposeof the invention is to minimize the installation complexity and allowthe electrical components required to be simplified or eliminated.

The invention comprises a ventilation system designed to evacuate thearea best described as being the cavity below the lower shelf of atypical pre-made kitchen or bathroom cabinet, the lower shelf beingpositioned approximately 4 to 5 inches off of the actual floor of thebuilding, and further described as being the cavity below the lowershelf but above the actual floor and bordered by the four sides thatrepresent the vertical sidewalls of the cabinet. This cavity or ‘plenum’is evacuated by a ventilation system which, in one embodiment, iscreated by cutting an opening or drilling a hole in the floor of thebuilding and thereby entering the inside of the plenum from below. Theductwork would then be mounted to the bottom surface of the floor of thebuilding. The ventilation system comprises ductwork inserted through thehole created in the floor of the building, the ductwork extending intothe plenum created below the lower shelf of the cabinet and above thefloor of the building. In this embodiment, the ductwork will extendupward against and through the opening created in the floor of thebuilding into the plenum from the basement or crawlspace. In so doing,the invention will allow easy installation and placement of theventilation ductwork, in addition to the fan, switch and electric powerservice if required. Most installation procedures will be conducted onthe underside of the floor and accessed from the basement or crawlspace.Electrical power supply and switches, if required, would be installed ina typical manner although most of the elements will be easy to accessfrom the basement or under the cabinet. It should be noted thatinstallation can be accomplished with a variety of fan, switch andductwork layouts without deviating from the scope of the invention.Radio controlled or electronic switches could be incorporated toeliminate wall or ceiling reconstruction and to simplify electric powersupply issues. Another provision of the ventilation system will be toprovide the ability to evacuate air from an island type cabinet byallowing air removal from below, through the floor of the building.

In a preferred embodiment, the air evacuated from the plenum will bedirected to the air intake pipe for the combustion burner of ahigh-efficiency condensing furnace and will thereby use the fan of thefurnace combustion burner to extract air from the plenum. Highefficiency furnaces typically include two pipes made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) material which are installed in the outside wall of thebuilding. In normal operation, the furnace will draw outside air intothe furnace combustion chamber through a first pipe and expel theexhaust from the combustion chamber to the outside of the buildingthrough a second pipe.

The present ventilation system would use the furnace combustion fan topull air from the plenum into the furnace through the first pipe andexhaust the air to the outside through the second pipe when the furnaceis operating. A proprietary 2 way valve would be incorporated in thefurnace combustion intake pipe to direct the combustion air supply. Inthis embodiment, the ventilation system ductwork would most likely bemade of PVC material and would be connected to the air supply pipe of ahigh efficiency furnace, this pipe typically also made of PVC. In thisembodiment, a separate fan and electric power supply installation wouldnot be required.

In a further embodiment, the venting action could be accomplished bymounting the ductwork and fan to the top surface of the lower shelf ofthe cabinet, therein pulling the air up and out of the plenum andwherein it is then exhausted to the outside of the building. This typeof installation would be required when the ventilation system is used ina building that does not have a basement or crawlspace or if the vent isdesired in a second floor installation. Air from the plenum could alsobe directed to the combustion air supply pipe of a high efficiencycondensing furnace.

Air removal from the plenum could be accomplished through a variety ofinstallation techniques including use of metal ductwork having amounting flange, by using a pipe with a mounting flange or through useof a gasket designed to interact with the hole cut into the floor of thebuilding. A pipe made of PVC including a mounting flange or gasketsystem would be appropriate when connecting the ductwork to the intakeair supply pipe for a furnace combustion burner as this type of ductworkis typically also made of PVC material. In a preferred embodiment, theductwork will project a distance into the plenum, having the flangepositioned a distance below the end of the ductwork. This provision willreduce the chance that water or debris would be pulled into theventilation system from the plenum during operation.

Ventilation system installation could include mounting a powered fandirectly to the bottom of the floor with ductwork included after thefan, or the fan could be remotely mounted and include ductwork to andfrom the fan. Other fan and ductwork layouts could be utilized withoutdeviating from the scope of the invention.

The plenum, best described as being the four vertical sidewalls of thecabinet, the lower shelf of the cabinet and the floor of the building,may have additional openings in the form of incomplete walls, orlouvered grillwork on the front of the recessed panel on the front ofthe cabinet. Air entering the plenum to be extracted by the systemdescribed could be supplied through the open back or sides of thecabinet or preferably through the opening including a louvered grillcover in the lower front portion of the cabinet.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, which will illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The below described drawing figures illustrate the invention

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the vent system as included ina typical kitchen or bath cabinet with ductwork included through thefloor of the building, and directed to the air supply pipe of a highefficiency furnace. In this view, a portion of the floor is cut away forclarity.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ventilation system as installed withventing through the floor and directed to the outside of the building.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the ventilation system with ductwork installedon the lower shelf of the cabinet with the air directed to the outsideof the building.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a portion of the floor including theopening created and an example of the ductwork including a mountingflange and hardware.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of the floor including the openingcreated and an example of the ductwork including a mounting flange andhardware.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a portion of the floor including theopening created and an example of the ductwork including a mountinggasket.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of the floor including the openingcreated and an example of the ductwork including a mounting gasket.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the ventilation system as included in a typicalkitchen or bath cabinet with ductwork included thru the floor of thebuilding, the ductwork directed to the combustion inlet air pipe of ahigh efficiency furnace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein described is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components. The inventionis capable of other embodiments and of being accomplished in variousways. Modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art and generic principles herein canbe applied to other embodiments and applications without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

The following detailed description is to be read with reference to thefigures in which like elements in different figures have like referencenumerals.

As shown in perspective view in FIG. 1 and in side view in FIGS. 2, 3 &8, the ventilation system is normally installed in a cabinet (10)typically found in a kitchen or bath of a contemporary home. Kitchen &bath cabinets (10) feature a lower shelf (15) which is designed toheighten the usable lower surface of the cabinet a distance above theactual floor (20) of the building. The hollow cavity created below thelower shelf (15) of the cabinet (10) and above the actual floor (20) ofthe building and having perimeter walls created by the structural sides(5) of the cabinet will herein be called a ‘plenum’ (30). A louveredgrill panel (40) could be installed on a wall of the plenum (30) mostlikely positioned on the front face (55) of the lower portion below thelower shelf (15) of the cabinet (10) to allow air from the interior ofthe building to enter the plenum area (30) of the cabinet (10).

As best shown in FIGS. 2 & 3 and in exploded view in FIGS. 4 & 6, anopening (70) is created to allow air from inside the plenum (30) of thecabinet (10) to be exhausted through the outside wall (80) of thebuilding through use of the described ductwork (60). In one embodimentand as best shown in FIG. 2, access to the air being removed from theplenum (30) will involve cutting a hole or opening (70) in the floor ofthe building, installation of ductwork (60) and a powered fan (65). Theopening created in the floor (20) of the building would be positioned inan area not interrupted by a floor joist or support beam. Access to theductwork (60) and powered fan (65) would be provided from below thefloor (20), this being the basement or crawlspace of the building.Ductwork (60) including a portion (90) designed to enter the plenum (30)is connected to the bottom of the floor (20) through use of a flange(75) including mounting fasteners (77) as best shown in FIGS. 4 & 5. Ina secondary embodiment, and as best shown in FIGS. 6 & 7, a gasket (110)would be installed on the ductwork (60) and inserted into the opening(70) and through design of the gasket, secure the ductwork (60) to thefloor (20) without the use of fasteners. In a preferred embodiment, theductwork (60) will include a portion (90) above the mounting flange (75)or gasket (110) that will allow the open top of the ductwork (60) to bepositioned higher than the surface level of the floor (20). Theprotrusion (90) will allow air removal while also preventing water ordebris from entering the ductwork (60). The ductwork (60) may beconnected to a fan (65) having sufficient power to pull the air frominside the plenum (30) through the outside wall (80) of the building.

In a secondary embodiment, and as best shown in FIG. 3, the ventilationsystem including the ductwork (60) and fan (65) would be located insidethe cabinet (10) and mounted to the lower shelf (15) with air from theplenum (30) pulled upward into the cabinet (10) and wherein it isthereby expelled through the exterior wall (80) of the building throughthe ductwork (60) and powered fan (65). This type of installation willbe required when installing the ventilation system in a building withouta basement or crawlspace or if installing the ductwork and fan in asecond floor bath or kitchen. The ductwork including the powered fan(65) in this application is mounted to the lower shelf (15) of thecabinet (10) with the ductwork extending downward into the plenum gaskettype mount (110) could be utilized and mounted to the top surface of thelower shelf (15).

In a further embodiment and as best shown in FIGS. 1 & 8, air removedfrom the plenum (30) can be directed through the ductwork (60) to thecombustion air inlet pipe of a condensing furnace (310). In suchapplication, the venting system will use the fan included in the furnacecombustion system to evacuate air from the plenum (30). As such, airwill be vented from the interior to the exterior of the buildingwhenever the furnace burner is operating. In a preferred embodiment, aproprietary movable valve would be installed in the combustion air inletpipe to allow changes in the direction of the combustion air supply fromoutside of the building to inside of the building, along with theability to switch back when desired. In that the action of the furnacecombustion fan system will evacuate air from the plenum (30) wheneverthe furnace is operating, this type of installation will not require aseparate fan and electric supply hardware.

Other types of fan and ductwork hardware could be used without deviatingfrom the spirit of the invention and would be apparent to those workingin the field.

1) A ventilation system comprising a plenum created below a lower shelfof a cabinet and above a floor of a building and bordered by fourvertical sidewalls comprising said cabinet, said ventilation systemincluding ductwork encompassing an opening created in an area of saidfloor which will provide entry into said plenum, said ductwork includingmounting facility to allow attachment to said floor, said ductworkconnected to an electric fan operated by adjustable electronic controls,said fan providing evacuation of air from said plenum to the exterior ofsaid building. 2) The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein saidmounting facility comprises a flange included on said ductwork tofacilitate screw or nail type mounting hardware to allow attachment to asurface of said floor. 3) The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein saidductwork mounting facility comprises a flexible seal sufficient tosecure said ductwork within said opening. 4) A ventilation systemcomprising a plenum created below a lower shelf of a cabinet and above afloor of a building and bordered by four vertical sidewalls comprisingsaid cabinet, said ventilation system including ductwork encompassing anopening created in said lower shelf of said cabinet, said ductworkincluding mounting facility to allow attachment to said shelf, saidductwork connected to an electric fan operated by adjustable electroniccontrols, said fan providing evacuation of air from said plenum to theexterior of said building. 5) The ventilation system of claim 4 whereinsaid mounting facility comprises a flange included on said ductwork tofacilitate screw or nail type mounting hardware to allow attachment to asurface of said shelf. 6) The ventilation system of claim 4 wherein saidductwork mounting facility comprises a flexible seal sufficient tosecure said ductwork within said opening. 7) A ventilation systemcomprising a plenum created below a lower shelf of a cabinet and above afloor of a building and bordered by four vertical sidewalls comprisingsaid cabinet, said ventilation system including ductwork encompassing anopening created in an area of said floor which will provide entry intosaid plenum, said ductwork including mounting facility to allowattachment to said floor, said ductwork connected to a pipe supplyingcombustion air for a high efficiency furnace, an exhaust blower motor ofsaid furnace providing air evacuation of said plenum. 8) The ventilationsystem of claim 7 wherein said mounting facility comprises a flangeincluded on said ductwork to facilitate screw or nail type mountinghardware to allow attachment to a surface of said floor. 9) Theventilation system of claim 7 wherein said ductwork mounting facilitycomprises a flexible seal sufficient to secure said ductwork within saidopening.